CHILLED-OUT holidays can increase the risk of an early death, a study suggests.

It found a fortnight’s idleness causes fitness levels to plummet and muscles to waste away.

Ex Prime Minister David Cameron chillaxing on a Corsican beach, but recent studies show this increases the risk of an early death

And experts say relaxing by the pool can increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Researchers asked 28 fit, young adults to cut activity levels by 80 per cent, from 10,000 daily steps to just 1,500. By the end of 14 days, they had lost a third of a kilogram of lean muscle and their waistlines had grown 1cm.

And when they took up their old exercise regime, they did not get back in shape within a fortnight.

Getty Images

Just two weeks of inactivity on the beach can increase risk of type 2 diabetes and heart disease

Experts said as well as attempting to boost time in the gym or outdoors, medics should warn about the dangers of being a couch potato.

They said modern life­styles have substantially cut our levels of physical activity compared to previous generations.

Dr Dan Cuthbertson, lead researcher on the Liverpool University study, said: “The results emphasise the importance of remaining active and highlight the dangerous consequences of continuous sedentary behaviour.”

MOST READ IN HEALTH

NO NEED TO OVARY-ACT

There are apparently five different types of vagina... so which do YOU have?

Sex Secrets

Prostitute who earns £2,000 a week reveals the average penis size ... and how much she enjoys work

SEX AND CHILL

Stressed-out woman suffering nasty period pains is shocked when doctor tells her to have MORE sex

Dying to know?

Here's how long you probably have left before you die... according to life expectancy experts

MOST NOTORIOUS ARACHNID IN BRITAIN

What is a false widow spider? How to spot the venomous creepy crawlies in the UK